Bon appetit

Sweat trickled from Surya’s forehead as he was keenly focused on the knife in his hand. Moving from his chopping board his hand stirred the boiling soup on the stove in front of him. Even during late afternoon that day, the sun seemed to roast him as he stood inside the confined space. He took down the orders from customers and pasted the notes on the steel surface just above the counter. After years and years of practice, he got used to this rush, yet maintained the calm composure inviting his customers.

Just then, a black BMW pulled up by the roadside. Two young women got down from the car. Dressed in black trousers and blazers, Samantha removed her tanned sunglasses and said, ‘food truck? Are you kidding me?’

‘Not at all. I thought you got bored dining out in fine restaurants. Well, why not dine here for a change?’ replied Tanya.

Staring at her, ‘I needed some change from usual. But I didn’t expect this. And, I won’t compromise with the hygiene and the food, of course’.

‘We are not compromising anything here, Samantha. Am sure you will love the food here.’

Samantha looked at the plastic chairs for a moment and the table in front of her before Tanya urged her to take the seat before anyone else occupies it. Tucking her blazer in her lap, she looked around to find someone to take their order.

‘It’s self-service here…’ Tanya hesitated, ‘I will get you something. What would you like to have?’

‘Anything, as long as it’s good’, replied Samantha.

‘Just a moment. I will be back soon,’ Tanya rushed to place their orders.

Samantha’s eyes scrolled through the place. Men and women were seen swarming the place, some sitting while most of them standing. Most of them had their IDs dangling from their neck. Samantha guessed they must be the employees of the nearby IT hub. When a little boy placed a plastic glass full of water on her table, Samantha asked, ‘can I get bottled water, please?’

The boy looked doubtfully at her and left.

She rubbed her hands after taking a huge drop of sanitiser from her pocket as she waited for her food. Crossing her legs her eyes kept reading the surroundings. People were gorging the food as if they don’t have enough time to enjoy it. In the table next to her were hot sandwiches big enough for breakfast.

Parked on the shoulder of the pavement, this food truck seemed to attract most of the crowd. The truck was painted in shiny bright green. She could see someone cooking from inside, but his waist is all she could see from her spot.

Soon, Tanya returned with a huge tray. As she placed it on the table the smells of smoking hot food engulfed her. She occupied the chair in front of her.

‘I asked for something special. And here it is,’ Samantha could see a broad smile on Tanya’s face just waiting to dig in.

‘Broccoli soup with some crunchy bread to go with it. And this is a spiced rice bowl with some veggies. You can take anything you want,’ said Tanya waiting for her to pick.

Samantha reached for the soup bowl and began taking her first sip. She took the next spoonful and then the next before dipping the bread in it. Florets of green broccoli swam in the thick creamy liquid which still seemed to retain its crunchiness a bit. While the first few spoonfuls went down in a rush to satiate her hunger, Samantha began relishing the soup just for its flavour, now, and the creaminess felt like she is drinking butter.

‘Like to taste?’ when Tanya offered, her bowl is already about to get empty.

‘Why don’t you order a rice bowl for me as well?’ said Samantha as a smile emerged from Tanya’s lips.

Finally, Samantha liked the food, she thought and she is happy that Samantha is convinced with the new eat-out.

‘Sure, why not?’ licking the last bits from her spoon, she rose to order for Samantha.

Well, surprised to get such soul-filling food here in a truck, Samantha couldn’t believe she is dining here and loving the food. She wanted to explore other items on the menu and most importantly she liked to meet the chef.

She waited until Tanya returned with her rice bowl. Before she could discuss further, it was time to dig in, again.

What looked like red sauce with sprinkled shallots on top, as she dipped her spoon, it came out with flavourful white rice. Without wasting a minute, she devoured it. The hot rice flavoured with ghee and delicate spices melted in her mouth. The masala and the veggies on top added the right amount of tingle in her mouth as she chewed.

Placing the empty bowl on the table, Samantha told, ‘I want to meet the chef.’

A wide smile emerged from Tanya, ‘sure, right away,’

When Tanya tapped the countertop, Surya bent to see who it was, keeping his notepad and pen ready to take down the order.

‘My friend wishes to meet you,’ said Tanya.

‘What?’ puzzled he looked around to see who it was but there was no one standing next to her. ‘What’s wrong?’

With a smile, she continued, ‘there is nothing wrong. Your food is awesome and she wanted to meet you. It’s probably to thank you for this wonderful meal, I guess. Come on,’ gesturing her hand to follow her.

‘Oh,’ he left out a sigh and continued, ‘mam, there is a lot of rush now, you see. I don’t want to keep you waiting but I’m held up here.’

‘Oh,’ she looked around to see the crowd before turning to him, ‘so how long will you take?’

‘Just give me fifteen minutes mam. I will try to come earlier if I can,’ he smiled.

‘Sure, come soon,’ said Tanya and left.

Once the crowd seemed to clear out, a fresh set of people kept coming. The sun slowly began to dip behind the clouds yet warming the air.

Samantha and Tanya kept waiting as people came in, dined and left. Some of them even stared at them for occupying the chairs without actually eating anything. The leaves of the huge peepal tree above them rustled and a dried leaf fell on their table.

When Samantha yawned, Tanya said, ‘he doesn’t seem to come. Shall we go?’

When she looked at her pointedly, Tanya continued, ‘maybe, meet him some other day?’

Samantha began rolling her mobile in her hands determined to meet him the same day.

As Tanya walked once more to the truck to call him, he came out, finally.

‘Am extremely sorry to keep you waiting mam,’ wiping off his forehead with his long sleeve he followed Tanya to their table.

Placing her phone on the table, she looked up at him. ‘so it’s you..!’ her eyes studied him. What is he doing in a food truck, after all, when he has got so much talent, she thought.

‘Mam, you wanted to meet me?’ not willing to waste one more moment.

‘Yes, Mr…’

‘Surya’, he filled in.

‘I wanted to ask you if you will be willing to work for us,’ said Samantha as his eyes grew wide.

‘Work for you?’ puzzled without knowing the magnitude of his job.

‘Yes,’ nodding her head, she exchanged a glance with Tanya sitting next to her.

‘Are you certain?’ Tanya’s jaw-dropping already.

‘Of course, I mean, what are you doing here in a food truck, Mr. Surya, when you can do so much more from my place.’

Surya kept shifting his glance from Samantha to Tanya while it was equally surprising for her as well. ‘But, mam…’

He couldn’t get time to process the sudden turn of events to decide.

‘Meet me here at 10 tomorrow,’ Samantha offered a shiny card, ‘you are not going to regret this, Mr. Surya and we will put your talent to good use both for you and us.’

As Surya kept staring at her doubtfully, she put on her blazer certain that he will meet her. With a smile and a sense of satisfaction in her eyes, she turned to leave.

‘And one more thing, your food was awesome indeed,’ she shook hands with him as he smiled back.